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Glite Dictionary
needlecord

needlecord

7.3
A soft cloth with very thin raised lines used for clothes
  • noun
translation icon : corduroy fino
  • The jacket is made of needlecord.

Examples

  • The tailor recommended needlecord for making lightweight jackets in the spring.

  • She wore a needlecord skirt that was both stylish and comfortable.

  • His favorite trousers were made from soft brown needlecord.

  • I love wearing needlecord trousers in the winter.

  • She chose a stylish jacket made of needlecord for the winter season.

  • The dress was crafted from needlecord, giving it a unique texture and warmth.

  • I bought a pair of trousers made from soft needlecord fabric for added comfort.

Synonyms

cord
vsneedlecord
40 4.0

A strong cotton fabric with soft raised vertical lines used for trousers and jackets

is the same idea but with much finer, closely spaced ribs
corduroy
vsneedlecord
21 3.8

A thick cotton fabric with raised parallel ribs

is a subtype with much narrower, closely spaced ribs for garments

How Fine

needlecord
7.3
corduroy
21 3.8
wide wale
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Surface Forms

needlecord singular
needlecords plural

Morphology

needlecord = needle + cord (semi-transparent) = needle + cord

The components 'needle' (meaning 'very thin') + 'cord' (the rib/wale) are form‑recognizable, but the specialized textile sense and how the metaphor yields the specific fabric term may not be fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

The word needlecord combines needle ('very thin', like a sewing needle) and cord, the same cord in corduroy that refers to the cloth's raised 'ribs'. So, needlecord means a corduroy with very narrow, closely spaced 'ribs', which is why it is used for fine, lightweight clothing.